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2022 HONDA CB500X

Honda

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Since its introduction in 2013, Honda’s CB500X has been quite the success. On paper, to die-hard ADV types, the spec doesn’t promise much. It’s an adapted road bike, this latest version producing just 47hp and weighing 199kg while suspension travel has always been modest, yet it’s found a considerable level of acceptance in the adventure marketplace. It may not challenge the extreme-ADV capabilities of say a KTM 690, but there’s a level of functionality and rock-solid reliability that makes it a great adventure travel bike. The aftermarket – and we’re thinking of the likes of Rally Raid Products here – has further enhanced the CB500X’s reputation and capability through the development of off-road wire wheel sets, suspension and protection upgrades that have made it a virtual go-anywhere bike. Want to cross the Simpson Desert – yeah, this bike has done that!

2022 UPDATES

NEW FORKS

Certainly, Honda has responded to owner behaviour, and successive updates since 2013 have added to the CB500X’s off-road capability. This latest update sees a major change to the front end, with the conventional 41mm forks of previous models making way for a set of upside-down forks by Showa, again 41mm diameter but featuring Separate Function Fork Big Piston (SFF-BP) tech – where the spring function resides in one fork leg, the damping functions in the other. The new fork legs are clamped of course by new triple clamps. Travel is 135mm, matched by an equal length travel from the rear shock, which has five-stage preload adjustment and a new spring rate and damping settings to match the forks. The swingarm has been lightened while its degree of flex – lateral and rotational – have been modified.

New forks – now upside down, like the pukka bikes
SFF-BP – as found in the latest enduros

NEW BRAKES

The single 310mm front disc has made way for a pair of 296mm wave-pattern discs with dual-piston Nissin calipers for enhanced braking performance with a reduced requirement for lever pressure.

More braking capacity, probably no bad thing
New wheels – but they look much like the old ones!

NEW WHEELS

We’re still talking cast aluminium 19” and 17” wheels, but now with a new design featuring slimmer spokes they are lighter. Tyre sizes are 110/80-19 and 160/60-17. Note that while the frame is unchanged, clearly the change to the forks and swingarm has recast the weight balance, so front/rear weight bias has shifted forward by 0.7% (48.7/51.3).

REVISED FUEL INJECTION

The engine remains unchanged for 2022, but Honda has revised its PGM-FI fuel injection settings, to ‘improve torque feel and character’.

BODYWORK ETC

As ever, Honda creates a slick set of quality bodywork. The fairing features a (two) height adjustable screen (+/-35mm). Headlight is by LED, while – like the CRFs – the front indicators remain lit for additional visibility. Instruments are LCD, with a gear position indicator and a ‘shift up’ light. The CB500X is known for its excellent frugality and with a 17.5l fuel tank Honda says it has a range of 485km. Oh and weight – despite the weight savings to the wheels and swingarm the CB500X has gain a couple of kilos…

Screen goes high or low, +/-35mm
The cockpit, with nav bar, looks increasingly ADV
47hp twin-cylinder motor is unchanged
New LED lights look sharp
New colour for 2022 is 'pearl organic green'
There's red and black options, as before

RUST SAYS

Well, nice updates for sure. The, er, die-hard ADV in us would like to see wire spoke wheels to finish off the adventure credentials, but we’ll not overly snivel on about that. It’s still a great bike and when we read the stories of what people have done to theirs and where they have travelled, we can see this bike gives a great deal of pleasure to a lot of riders and whether it’s a first dip into ADV or a downsize for an aging rider it’s doing sterling work.

Accessory options include crash bars
Luggage is more road than adventure
It's a travel bike, centrestands are useful...
What is the fascination with auxiliary lights?
Modest skid for a modest bike (not 'first pass', evidently)
Careful in the mud with those tyres, Bruce
The CB500 family...

SPECIFICATION

2022 HONDA CB500X

 

ENGINE

 

Type

Liquid-cooled, parallel twin

Displacement

471cc

Bore and stroke

67mm x 66.8mm

Compression Ratio

10.7: 1

Max. Power Output

35kW @ 8,600rpm

Max. Torque

43Nm @ 6,500rpm

Noise Level

L-urban 74dB L-wot 76.7dB

Oil Capacity

3.2L

FUEL SYSTEM

 

Carburation

PGM FI electronic fuel injection

Fuel Tank Capacity

17.5L (inc reserve)

CO2 Emissions WMTC

82 g/km

Fuel Consumption (WMTC)

3.6L/100km / 27.8km/l (WMTC mode)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

 

Battery Capacity

12V 7.4AH

ACG Output

25A/2000rpm

DRIVETRAIN

 

Clutch Type

Wet multiplate

Transmission Type

6 speed

Final Drive

Chain

FRAME

 

Type

Steel diamond

CHASSIS

 

Dimensions (L´W´H)

2155mm x 830mm x 1410mm (Low screen) 1445mm (High screen)

Wheelbase

1445mm

Caster Angle

27.5 degrees

Trail

108mm

Seat Height

830mm

Ground Clearance

180mm

Kerb Weight

199kg

SUSPENSION

 

Type Front

Showa 41mm SFF-BP USD forks, pre-load adjustable

Type Rear

Prolink mono with 5 stage preload adjuster, steel hollow cross swingarm

WHEELS

 

Type Front

Multi-spoke cast aluminium

Type Rear

Multi-spoke cast aluminium

Rim Size Front

19 X MT2.5

Rim Size Rear

17 X MT4.5

Tyres Front

110/80R19M/C (59H)

Tyres Rear

160/60R17M/C (69H)

BRAKES

 

ABS System Type

2 channel

Type Front

Dual 296mm x 4mm disc with Nissin radial-mount two piston calipers

Type Rear

Single 240mm x 5mm disc with single piston caliper

INSTRUMENTS & ELECTRICS

 

Instruments

LCD Meter with Speedometer, Bar Graph Tachometer, Dual Trip Meters, Fuel Level and Consumption Gauge, Clock, Water Temp, Gear position, Shift UP Indicator

Headlight

LED

Taillight

LED

Security System

HISS (Honda Intelligent Security System)

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